Rail-joint.



y PATEN'TBD. FEB. 1?-, 1903i. R. P. G-LoV-ER & 5.1.. JOHNSTON;

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RICHARD PpCLOVER AND JAMES L. JOHNSTON, OF STRA'ITONVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM R. RU- LOFSON AND COLON H. MCNAUGHTON, OF STRATTONVILLE, PENN- SYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT..

SEECIFICATION forming oart'of Letters Patent No. 721,019, dated February 17, 1903. Application filed AngustlGdQOZ. Serial No. 119,957. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that we, RICHARD P. CLovEn and JAMES L. JOHNSTON ,citizens of the United States, residing at' Strattonville, in the county of Clarion and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of rail-joints in which the conjoining ends of the rail lengths have their heads cut away atintervals to receive a connectingpiece in the form of an elongatedV steel cap correspondingly cut away and shaped at intervals to lit in the cut-away portions of 'the rail lengths to provide a reliable connecting means for the latter without the use of bolts and nuts now commonly employed for a simif lar purpose. Y.

The main object of the present invention is to hold rail-joints securely without rattling,

present a smooth continuous surface to the' Wheels, and obviate atteningof the ends of the rails; also, in furnishing means whereby old rails the ends of which have become dattened may be used again by slightly altering them.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, Which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspectiveY vew of rail lengths, showing the joints thereof connected by the improved devices forming lthe subject-matter of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. Li is a perspective view of the conjoining ends of rail lengths prepared to receive the connecting means embodying the features of the invention. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the connecting means or cap for application to the rail ends as shown prepared by Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of a chair or base-plate forming part of the invention.

Similar nu merals of reference are employed ,seat formed by the slots 3.

.Ito indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numerals 1 and Y2 respectively designate the conjoining' ends ofY railroad-rail lengths which have their terminals formed with slots 3, providing a seat above the abutting portions of the said ends. In forming the slots 3 a part of the headfi and web 5 of each rail is removed, and at a suitable distance from the slots 3 other similar slots 6 are constructed, but are of less length than the By providing the slots 3 to form the seat adjacent to the abutting ends of therails old rails which have been flattened and materially injured at their abutting ends may be used again by employment in connection therewith of a steel cap 7 (clearly shown by Fig. 5) and simulating a rail length having slots 8 at regular intervals extending transversely therethrough, baseflanges 9, With vertical slots 10 therein, at the bases of the slots 8, opstanding thickened Webs 1l, with grooves 12 opening upwardly thereinto from the bottom, Yand heads 13, forming a part of the web and shaped similarly to the ordinary railroad rail head or ball. The grooves 12V are formed in all the webs 11, there being threeoi" such webs and three heads 13 in the present instance, though the number may be increased as desired. The flange 9 is shaped to fit over the baseiianges of the rail lengths, as clearly shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and at `opposite edges the flanges 9 have spike-receiving slots or recesses 14. The cap?, constructed as set forth, is placed over the ends of the rail lengths, the end Webs 11 aud-3 heads 13 fitting in the slots 6 nad the central Web 1]. and its head 13 fitting in the seat formed by the slots 3. The reduced rail-Webs which are produced by the formation of the slots 3 and 6 are embraced by the grooves 12, and the heads 13. coincide with the rail-heads and form flush joints with the latter, as clearly indicated by Fig. l. Before'the cap '7 is applied, however, a chair-.or base-plate 15 is disposed under the conjoining ends of the rail lengths, the said chair or base-plate'being brought to bear on the upper surfaces of a number of contiguous ties. The upper side of the chair or base-plate is formed with a channel 16 to receive the base-flanges of the conjoining ends of the rail lengths, and at regular intervals along opposite side Walls of the said channel 16 spike-slots17 are formed in the said chairor plate 15.

The chair or base-plate 15 is arranged under the conjoining ends of the rail lengths, which have been prepared as shown by Fig. 4, and the cap 7 is then fitted over the said ends so as to have the flanges 9 thereof cover the base-flanges of the rail lengths and the openings or recesses 14 coincide with the slots 17. When the several parts are in this position, the heads 13 will be snugly fitted in close relation to the heads of the rail lengths, and to hold the parts in immovable relation spikes 18 are driven through the recesses 14 and slots 17 into the ties beneath, the said recesses and slots having their innermost walls located in vertical alinement with the opposite edges of the base-flanges of the rail lengths, and `by so positioning the recesses 14 and slots 17 the spikes driven therethrough will prevent the rail lengths from shifting laterally on the chair or base-plate 15.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a very simple and effective form of railroadjoint is provided, and by the use of the cap 7 the employment of the ordinary form of securing bolts and nuts, as well as fish-plates, is dispensed with and a reliable and secure rail-joint results.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with conjoining ends of rail lengths having slots formed through the heads and webs thereof, of a cap having a base-flange to lit over the flanges of the Web and formed with vertical slots therethrough and upstanding grooved webs with heads simulating those of the rail lengths, the said webs and heads of the cap being fitted in the slots of the rail lengths and the grooves in the webs of the cap embracing the reduced web below the slots in saidl rail lengths, and a base-chair having a channel in its upper surface in which the flanges of the rail lengths are disposed, the langesof the cap and the opposite side portions of the base-chair being secured by spikes driven therethrough.

2. A railroad-joint comprising rail lengths having slots therethrough at the abutting ends and at a distance from said ends, a cap with opstanding grooved webs and heads and a base-Harige to flushly engage the abutting extremities of the rail lengths, and a basechair on which the rail lengths are disposed and to which the flange of the cap is secured over the flanges of the rail lengths.

In testimony whereof we ax our signatures in presence of two witnesses. Y

RICHARD P. CLOVER. JAMES L. JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

J. C. STRATTAN, M. P. STRATTAN. 

